Pedro Almodovar‘s new film, “All About My Mother,” will open the 1999 NewYork Film Festival on September 24th, following its successful worldpremiere at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. The movie, which stars CeliaRoth, Penelope Cruz, Marisa Paredes, and Antonia San Juan is the secondAlmodovar film to open the NYC event — “Women on the Verge of a NervousBreakdown” opened the Festival in 1988. Almodovar’s “Live Flesh” closed theevent in 1997.

In a review published during the Cannes Film Festival, indieWIRE criticStephen Garrett hailed the film as “a subtly powerful and emotionallyrewarding story of a woman who loses her teenage son and finds new life inthe remnants of her past.” Continuing, he added, “As a deeply felt, witty,and surprisingly complex tribute to the Hollywood and South Americanmelodramas of the past and as a handsome addition to the mature work of hisown career, Almodovar’s ‘Mother’ is a sweet, stirring accomplishment.”Sony Pictures Classics will release the film theatrically on November 19th.

Commenting on the selection in a prepared statement, New York Film Festivalselection committee chairman Richard Pena said, “I can think of fewdirectors whose work has matured as creatively and richly as PedroAlmodovar. He has been a formidable presence at the New York Film Festivalthroughout the years, and it is a pleasure to have him back.” The 37th NewYork Film Festival runs September 24 to October 10, 1999.

Double your pleasure, double your fun. Twenty-eight year old identicaltwins Mark and Michael Polish joined the fashionable set Tuesday night forthe NYC premiere of their first feature, “Twin Falls Idaho.” Co-written bythe duo, the film was directed by Michael Polish and the two star as theleads in this deliberate and touching story of conjoined twins.Exceptionally well-shot, with stand-out performances by the twins, “TwinFalls” unspools quietly, revealing the tender, and at times difficult,relationship between two brothers. Model Michele Hicks co-stars with thePolish twins and she undoubtedly accounted for the fashion-focused crowd ofattendees, including Amber Valletta, Kirsty Hume, Donovan Leitch, and AnnaSui — director Joel Schumacher, and Split Screen’s John Pierson alsodropped in to catch the crowded showing. A large line of paparazzi formedinside the theater lobby and nearly 100 guests were turned away at the doorof the jammed theater on Broadway & 19th Street, before the showing beganabout 15 minutes late.

After the screening, guests headed to the meat packing district for apost-showing party at Hell. While the Polish boys held court in the back,Sony’s Michael Barker, Dylan Leiner, Carmelo Pirrone, and Barbara Sintesmingled with guests nearby. Sony grabbed the movie at Sundance afterco-president Tom Bernard caught the first screening and brought in Barkerand Leiner to catch the next day’s showing. The film, which also screenedat New York’s New Director’s/New Films Series this Spring, was produced byMarshall Persinger, Rena Ronson, and Steven J. Wolfe.

Michael Polish gained attention for his recent short film, “Bajo DelPerro,” which is about Mexican boxing. He and his brother are of Latinodescent on their Mother’s side, having grown up in the small SouthernCalifornia border town of El Centro. The director indicated that he andMark are about to hit the road for a press junket that will touch 12 citiesin 11 days. Laughing he added, “Our press tour is longer than our filmshoot.”

“Twin Falls Idaho” will debut in New York on July 30th, prior to a nationaltheatrical release.

[indieWIRE will publish an interview with Mark and Michael Polish laterthis month.]